USA Custom Guitars Strat-Style Neck

25-1/2"Scale
1-3/4" Nut
Buzz Feiten route
Flat nut slot
Top-adjust truss rod
6100 Nickle Frets
USA-2 Peghead
3/8" (10mm) tuner holes (for Steinberger tuners)
Maple neck
AAAAA Brazillian Rosewood fretboard
Clay face and side dots
'63 neck contour (starting at .835 at the nut)
USACG Custom Logo
7-1/4" to 9-1/2" radius

This neck is as close to perfect as I have ever played on any guitar anywhere. There are some guitar necks that feel so good in one's hand that it compels one to want to keep playing. This neck is like that.

The wider neck, together with the compound radius, Buzz Feiten nut, and '63 contour suit me to a "T". I will order another guitar from USACG and will again order this neck. It's perfect for me. (Just thinking about it now makes me want to pick it up and play it)

The ONLY flaw I have been able to find, (and this was by a professional luthier in London) is a very, very small rise in the thickness of the fingerboard on the bass side at around the 10th fret. Were it not for this infinitesimal flaw this neck would easily rate a 10.

Based upon the quality of materials used (top quality maple, rosewood, trussrod, clay dots, nickle frets) I believe that this guitar will last my great-grandchildren a lifetime.

This is an easy one.
Listen to me when I say this: Tommy Rosamond provided the best customer service of any business I have ever experienced. Period. And I know what I am talking about as my job is to train customer support help desk workers to assist computer users with their problems.

There were times during the ordering process when I was sending Tommy 2 or 3 emails per day. Without fail, I would receive a reply usually within the hour!! I stopped doing this as it made me feel guilty.

In fact, I was so impressed with the level of customer service that I told Tommy to take an additional $50 off the card as a token of my appreciation. (Naturally, he didn't do it.)

I wish I could rate this category much, much higher than 10.

My overall experience in dealing with Tommy Rosamond and USACG and the product I received was extremely positive. I'm already planning my next guitar purchase from Tommy.

I promise to keep my flurry of emails to a minimum.

Thank-you Tommy.

I have the fat (one inch) one, with a 1 11/16 inch nut. I got a quartersawn maple neck (with some surprising flame) with a rosewood board. The neck on my 1988 reissue Strat was beyond hope without a refret, and it was too thin anyway. I rated it high because I ordered it my way!

The guitar was already a rich sounding Strat, and this just made it better. I like fat, round, darker-sounding Strats, and this one does it. The neck does help.

I got it unfinished and had Dan Erlewine do all the work and assembly. You know everything is right!

I have had it (neck) for two years and it now seems like it was always on the guitar.

USA Custom is great. Go, Tommy, go!

I have since bought a Tele-style neck!

USA Custom One Piece Maple Neck, flat- sawn
Asymetrical curve
6100 frets
Unfinished

This neck is on a USACG alder body, and it sounds great! All other things being equal, BIG necks = BIG tone.

Bought unfinished. Used Dye and Tru-oil - easy. Tru oil necks feel wonderful.
I have medium/small hands, but my experience is that bigger necks sound better - so I tried the asymetrical neck curve to get more wood. I requested a neck that was thick from fretboard to the back of the neck but the lower shoulder is deeply cut, like a hard v neck. It worked out beautifully - I get good wood and am able to fret it effortlessly without slowing or cramping. I also tried larger frets for the first time (6100) and I just wonder how I missed this all this time. Big frets rule. This is one easy playing neck.

Fender style, probably tough as a guitar neck gets.

As good as it gets. Everyone here is very knowledgeable and helpful. A lot can go wrong with buying a neck sight unseen, but these guys know their business. My neck was exactly what I wanted. I will buy and build another guitar with them in the future.

I've been playing a long time. Owned a lot of stuff, many nice guitars. This neck is on a USACG body - and this is the best strat and one of the two best guitars I've ever owned.

I have 2 necks, one is my work horse , It's unfinished, it's 3 years old, been gigged ,toured, thrown , left in the trunk of my car all day, dropped, played to death and it still keeps my guitar in tune perfectly all the time, the frets have held up, it has never warped, I 've adjusted the truss twice. THe second ,is a copy of that neck that is on my backup guitar. It doesn't get much use cuz I am still in love with the first neck that I got from USA Custom.

It's a Maple neck on a strat that does it's job perfectly. It stays straight, has maded the guiatr more alive, Stays in tune with the help of sperzel tuners I have on it. I have a Mple preference for strats, so It suits the guitar perfectly.

The frets are 6105 dunlops, were perfectly level and rounded off when, I got the neck. After a years I did notice the frets settled a little more from heavy playing and sanded the sides smooth.

I have literally thrown both of the guitars with the USA neck on them at: the floor, drummers, drumsets, and never had a problem with breaking or even tuning problems, These necks are solid. I only use a soft case for travel on gigs and small tours and they are both sound and solid. Yes, they are reliable.

The guys at Usa are aweome, they walked me through every possible contour, fret size, neck shape , and made me the best neck I have ever played. I love them.

The only neck I will ever play for the rest of my life. No BS.

Purchased as "used" on Ebay-looked like mint condition. Faction of Original Price.
Made in the Old USA, a great job even if CNC at that
"S" as in Strat style neck with pre CBS style headstock.
Neck is Beautiful grained Maple, Nitorcellulous finish, Finger Board is honest to goodness Slab of BRAZILIAN Rosewood. Gorgeous Colors, Stunning Striping.
Radius is 12", I wanted a variable 7 1/2 to 9 1/2, but settled on because of Brazilian Rosewood neck. Glad I did.

Necks do make a difference as to sound. I am in the Rosewood school of necks, I don't like playing on finish and feel Maple is too Bright for a strat for my tastes. Again a personal preference. Thought I put in a good word in for the Rosewood.(Note that Jimi Hendrix played a lot of different Strats, and other guitars for that matter, with either Maple or Rosewood Fingerboard. Other than the Woodstock association, I don't see the all the emphasis on Maple for a classic rock guitar.)
Wood even had a good tone when I first "knocked" on it. Not as Dead as my Maple Neck it was replacing (a Japanese Fender Neck with CBS)Don't get me wrong, I am not down on maple necks for sound (okay maybe for durability and upkeep) I just like another flavor than "Vanilla."

The Fret work was perfect and I believe came this way from the factory (I did get this second hand but it appears the neck was never mounted or played). I did not any additional work from a Guitar teck for setup or adjustment. Since USA custom does not apply finishes, I can't give them credit for this, I can say that it was professionally finished in Nitrocellulous, and I have no complaints, and regret that I cannot give credit where credit is due. The neck was prior to its lacquer application properly sanded, no grit, no scratches, etc, so Kudos to resposible party which is USA Custom on this point.

The guitar neck will withstand live playing and out last anything Fender is making now. The finish will probably last the same length of time a vintage finish will. Since this is musically/tonally preferable, I will not cry that my neck was not embalmed, intombed, or hermatically sealed in polyurethane to last 100 years or more. It is what it is, a well built neck made from quality materials. That always seems the better choice. Also, considering the maple/rosewood construction it is a lot less likely to warp.

I have had no communication. As this was purchase second hand, I would not bother these people even if the neck went south on me.

The only positive experiences I have had are with rosewood necks. Currently my collection has thinned. I have had vintage and non vintage necks, and distiguish quality. This is definitely a class act.
I would attempt to replace if stolen, however Brazilian Rosewood doesn't grow on trees anymore. Or more correctly, other than Tap roots from previously harvested trees (stumps), the government of Brazil is not allowing any more export of its Rosewood or what is left of them (90% of the remaining Coastal Rainforest has been harvested in the last 40+years). I have had a Warmoth neck (USA Custom is a spin off company of former Warmoth employees) that had to have its fingerboard re glued, a Mighty Mite (I did not like it one bit), and the Fender Japan as noted above. I rate this a 10 compared to modern Fender necks I have played (The later SRV necks included) and a solid 9 with other necks I have had previously

made in 2003 in USA. 22 fret maple/maple neck with 6105 fretwire and a hockey headstock. they got everything right except the wrong fretwire which is the worst part of part of it.

its a maple neck, too many other other factors in my tone to have anything to do with the neck

The guitar had the wrong fretwire as stated. I asked for 6105 fretwire, they gave me 6150. most important part of the neck they screw up. also there is stray glue along the frets. everyone said go to USA custom over warmoth because they are smaller and higher quality. looks like they were wrong

the actual wood part of the neck looks and i have no doubts it will stay nice and straight. the fretwire is breaking down already after 5 months. you can see the indents starting to form so as i said i'll have to refret it because i can't afford to get it professionally done.

everyone raves about this, i have no idea why. I ordered the neck/body in late august 2003. they said i should have it before october. i didn't get it till early november. not a phone call and when i did call in late october they said they were going to call me and tell me the first neck they did got messed up and they needed to make a new one. that's great customer service. they said the body was done and they would send it out but they didn't send it until they sent the neck. i couldn't get in contact with them about the fretwire situation.

I've had it for about 5 months, past the honeymoon phase. i would not buy from USA Custom Guitars again. You can tell the neck is solid but the frets were really bad. wrong size and the glue was sloppy.
I'm really pissed because I work 4 or 6 am everyday so i could send that money off to a company that doesn't return a quality product. this was almost a weeks worth of pay and hopefully when i sell the neck i can make most of my money back.
If the neck snapped off and I had to get a replacement I would defintely go ebay or warmoth.

This was a CBS-style neck custom specs. Birdseye maple neck with a birdseye cap fingerboard, 9.5 radius, 1.65 nut width, jimmie vaughan profile, medium tall frets, rolled edges. It took 4 weeks, but when I finally got it, I was more than impressed. This neck is incredible. Best of all, I got to design it.

USA Custom Guitars doesn't do finishing. The neck came in very smooth and flawless. I had to do one adjustment though and that was to sand a little bit of the headstock to match the fender cbs headstock. It took me about half an hour with a dremel. I finished the guitar with amber neck dye and nitrocellulose from the Guitar Reranch following instructions posted on their site and my neck looks incredible! This is the dream guitar Fender Custom Shop caliber (I kid you not)!

USA Custom Guitars is owned by this guy Tommy. He is awesome. This guy talks with you personally about every detail you want in the neck. HE TALKS TO YOU, NOT HIS WORKERS. If you give it to them, Tommy will call you back and directly ask you again. This has to be one most pleasureable customer support experiences I've ever had. USACG also has a website with a forum where you can get tons of help and support. I used it again and again when questions arouse and even in trying to decide different features for my neck. I highly recommend them for quality, service, and a great price!

Whatever the highest rating you could give, I'll give it one above that!

I've gotten about a half dozen necks from Tommy (so far) of the "Strat" and "Tele" type variety. These necks are excellent. All of them were specifically ordered to my preferences in every way; 21 6100 or 6150 frets, 7.25-9.5 or 12" radius, .840-.910 C back contour, vintage type tuner route, heel adjust etc., etc. If you have narrowed down exactly what you like in a neck, Tommy can do it for you.
I've got a couple necks which are maple with rosewood board and a couple mahogany ones with rosewood board.
I love these necks; no need to compromise anymore when it comes to a bolt on neck.

I play blues and roots music professionally and these necks are perfect for my style.
I have a few vintage amps and my main rig is a '62 brown Pro with outboard reverb unit.
Don't let anyone tell you that that the neck on a bolt-on guitar has no bearing on tone. I've found this out the hard way. I got Tommy's number initially when the neck on my old Strat basically gave up on me. I had tried various after market necks which made the guitar sound thin. I ordered a mahogany neck with rosewood board from USA Custom and the guitar came alive again; warm on the unwound strings but yet still has some snap to it on the lower strings. The maple necks with rosewood boards sound great on my other guitars as well.
It's all good with these necks; all the good things you're reading and hearing about Tommy and USA Custom are true.

The fret work on these necks is consistently great. They can roll the fingerboard and fret edges for you which makes a wonderful difference in feel. The techs I use are even impressed and that's something because these guys have made their own necks and appreciate certain attention to detail.

As long as these necks have proper finish on them to protect from elements, they should last 30 or 40 years just like the old necks have.

This is the icing on the cake and a big reason why I'm even writing this review.
Although I haven't met him in person I would consider Tommy a friend. We've talked about stuff other than guitars or gear; just life in general and he's a great guy. He's incredibly helpful, knowledgable and friendly. It's great to see a company like this do well. I've never had an issue with anything but I'm sure Tommy would accommodate if there was.

I've been playing for over 20 years and have went through plenty of amps guitars etc.
I'll be ordering another neck soon from USA Custom.
I like everything about these necks.
Finally, I can get exactly what I want in a neck and the prices are great.

This is a custom job:
-2.25" wide at the heel, a full 1/16" wider than a stock strat neck, to fit my hands better (I'm 6'1")
-1.75" wide at the nut
-24.75" Gibson scale length for easier action and bending
-16" radius (allows lower action without fretting out during bends)
-Dunlop 6105 frets which I later had milled fairly flat to .047" for a feel like the newer Gibsons
-22 frets, maple on maple, headstock sanded to Fender contour

I finished it my self with 2 coats of Minwax polyurethane satin from a can with a foam brush (per Tommy Rosamond at USA), installed a graphite nut and Gotoh vintage tuners.

I attached the neck to a USA CG strat body:
-no body contours ( I'm an old Les Paul guy)
-alder, hard tail, chambered
-finished in alpine white with black binding (pics of this body are on the Roxy finish website)
Duncan JB junior in the bridge, middle and front are Carvin single coils(I like them because you can screw the pole pieces all the way down out of the picks way)

Sounds wonderful..USA is obviously picking their woods well.
I'm getting the fatness of a 335 with all the spank of a strat. The two front PUs let me get all the modern smooth jazz clean tones, R&B sounds, blues stuff...the JB gives me fat fusion lead tones ala Gambale, Holdsworth, Henderson and heavy rock tones..it does it all without compromise...

workmanship is flawless...
and the Roxy finish quality must be seen to be believed..like something from an art museum...

solid as a bat

Tommy Rosamond answers the phone himself and always returns email the same day.

I sanded the neck for an hour or so as I had planned with 50 grit sandpaper to get the size just perfect (it was huge, just as I ordered it).. I now have an ideal tailored fit
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A GOOD FIT MAKES!!!

I play better, longer, more comfortably, faster...it's like a runner finally getting a pair of track shoes that fit!

I want this company to last!
Other companies will not do the custom sizing I want, at any where near this price, or nearly this fast...
I'm all done with off the rack store guitars.

Been playing 25 years, all over the U.S., fulltime: fusion, blues, pop, hard rock and a Zeppelin tribute act (zeppelintribute.com)

2002,
21 frets, 1 piece Maple neck with 6000 frets (The Big Dogs)
Best V neck I evr tried.

Great bending on a 7.5-9.5 compound radius.

Perfect.

No problem with USA CG Products, and Tommy will back up his work/products!

The Best in my 35 Years of Pro Playing

35 years/Pro Blues Guitarist, I own a Tele and 3 Strats all USA CG, variety of pups, MIni's, P90's, HBers,
It would be replaced, for sure
I like the feel & size of Neck.